[ILUG] Bad day at google

[Colm Buckley]

On 27 Jul 2005, at 06:04, Timothy Murphy wrote:

> Thanks, I think I will un-install it.
> To start with, as I said, each time I start Firefox
> I get this annoying page of queries,
> which I have to answer before I can go on [..]

That is definitely not the normal behaviour - something must be wrong  
with your installation.  In the normal case, it only asks that  
question once.  I don't know why it's repeating the question in your  
case - looks like it's having trouble saving your preferences.   
Permissions problem?

> But what exactly is this entry in the toolbar meant to achieve,  
> over simply clicking to go to www.google.ie ?

That's most of it - we find that Google searching is such a common  
operation that many people prefer to have the search box "always on"  
rather than requiring a visit to the Google homepage before the  
search terms are entered.  YMMV.  There are other toolbar features,  
of course, like the spellchecker, form autofill and automatic  
translator, but more rapid access to search is the main one.

> In fact, when I try to type in the space offered, it is like  
> sending a message to the moon, as each character takes a second or  
> so to be echoed.

Again, that is not normal behaviour - something must be screwy in  
your Firefox installation.  It would be a good idea to file a bug  
report with Google so that we can devise a solution.

> I don't mind Mr Google knowing what sites I visit, but I wish he  
> would set up his listening devices properly.

For clarity, our privacy policy on this is at http://www.google.com/ 
support/toolbar/?quick=privacy&v=3.0

     Colm (not speaking in an official Google capacity)

-- 
Colm Buckley / colm at tuatha.org / +353 87 2469146